Can top



l June 19, 1928.

M.y D. COHEN CAN TOP Filed Jan. 5, 1927'A 2 Sheng-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR Ooh/arb BY WWW/Pa ATTORNEY Patented June 1:9, 1928.

UNITED ,sTATEs 103318 D. COHEN, F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE cnr mor.

Application tiled January 5, 1927. Serial Io. 158,186.

My invention relates to can or container tops of that type having an opening in which a pivoted pouring spout is mounted, and 1t consists in the com inations, constructions 6 and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to obviate deterioration of the contents of a can of the character described because of the exposure l0 of such contents to the air. i

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of quickly and easily releasable means for locking the pouring spout-of a can'top of the character described in closed osition when desired so that the opening 1n which the pouring spout is mounted will be closed practically air tight, thus obviating such deterioration or impairment of the contents of the can as would result from exposure to the air for any considerable length of time and also obviating accidental opening of the pouring spout and consequent spilling of the contents of the can should the can be overturned when the pouring spout is closed.

A further object ofthe invention is the provision in a can top of the character described of a novel pouring spout and simple reliable and efficient locking means for holding the spout closed positively when desired and for permitting opening of .the spout conveniently and easily when desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followin description, considered in conjunction witg the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1, is a plan view of a can top e uip ed with a pourin spout and one form o loc ing means for t e pouring spout according to the invention, showing the spout locked in closed position,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the can top with the locking means in position to permit open- IlV ing of the spout but with the spout closed Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section substantially along the line 4--4 of Figure 2 but with the pouring spout open, Y

Figure. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Fi Gis a plan view of thecan top with the ocking cover for the pouring spout el Qmitted, v

y can top.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pourin'spout alone.

igure 8 is a plan view of another can top equipped with a modified form oi.' pouring s out and locking means therefor, showing t e pouring spout locked in closed position,

Fi re 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, showing thel pouring spout closed but unlocked,

Figure 10 is a section along the line 10-10 of Figure. 8, l

Fi ure 11 is a section along the line 11-11 of Figure 9,

Figure 12 is a sectional View of the can top exhibited in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, with the can top inverted and its pouring spout open, and l Figure 13 is a perspective group view of the modified form of can top with its pouring spout and the pouring spout locking cover removed.

In Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, a can top 1 has a substantially flat sunken or depressed circular portion 2 in which is formed an opening 3. The opening 3 is located between the center and the edge of the depressed portion 2 and may have substantial- 1y parallel inner and outer end edges and the outwardly divergent side edges as shown. The depressed ortion 2 is formed to rovide downwardly o set ledges 4 at the si e edges of the o ening 3 and with a downwardly offset le ge 5 at the ou'ter end edge of the opening 3. A. pouring spout 6 has a fiat top) 7 from which depends aipair of parallel su stantially sector-shaped side members 8 provided at their lower corners with stop extensions or lugs 8 for engaging with the under. surface of the can top to limit the opening movement of the spout. The pouring spout may be formed of a single piece of light gauge metal or other suitable material bent to the desired shape and so that the side ed e portions of the top 7 extend laterally o the side members 8 and are adapted to rest on the ledges 4 when the top 7 of the pouring spout is disposed in the openin 3. A bendable' hinge lu 9 extends 'from t e outer or wider end of t e top 7 of the spout and is ada ted to be inserted in an opening 10 in the edge 5 and then bent inwardly under the ledge to hingedly connect the to of the pouring spout with the lip 11 at the inner end of the spout top 7 willy be disposed in a slightly larger depression 12 inthe depressed portion 2 of the can top 'when the spout top is in position to close the opening 3 and can be engaged by a finger nail or the like and actuated to swing the pouring spout outwardly from closed position to open position.

A locking cover plate 13 lits rotatably in` the depressedportion 2 of the can top and has a thickness approximately equal to the depth of the depression 2. A rivet 14 depends from the center of the plate 13 through a central opening 15 in the depressed portion 2 and pivotally connects the plate 13 with the can top. The plate 13 is cut away at 16 from the outer edge of the late radially inward for a distance greaterV t an the radial distance from the'edge of the plate 13 to the edge of the lip 11 at the inner end of the spout top. The cut away portion 16 of the plate also has a width greater than that of the spout top. The side edges of the cut away portion 16 of the plate may be rolled or turned upward and backward as indicated at 17. The plate 13 is formed with the radial ribs 18 and the concentric circular ribs 19 on the upper face of the plate both to strengthen the plate and to produce finger ip members for convenience in turning the plate 13 in the depressed portion 2 of the can top.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. When the spout is in closed position, its top will serve as a substantially air tight closure for the opening in the can top. The spout can be locked in its closed position by turning the locking cover plate 13 until the cut away portion 16 is com letely out of register with the spout to an the cover plate then will aid in exclu 'ng air and moisture from the interior of the can and will ositively retain the pouring spout in closedp position. The plate 13 is turned until the cutaway portion 16 is above the pouring s out. when it is desired to open the'spout. he spout will be completely covered by the locking plate when the spout is closed and the locking plate is in locking position, thus safeguarding the out against injury. It therefore will be o vious that a can having a to construction as hereinbefore described is a apted to hold in practically unimpaired conditlon granular material, such as ground coffee, which would be impaired if exposed to the action of the atmosphere for any considerable length of time.

The cantop shown in- Figures 8 to- 13, inclusive, is designated 30 and has a circular portion 31 surrounded by a relatively depressed annular portion 32, thus producing a neck 33. The portion 31 has an openin 34 which is similar to the hereinbefore descri opening 3. A pouring spout 35 is generally similar to the spout 6 and has a top 36' and side member 37 and provided with stop extensions or lugs 37. The top 36 has extending side edge portions 38 adapted to mst on the ledges 39 at the side edges of the opening 34 Aand also has -a bendable hinge lug 40 engageable with an opening 41 in the le ge 42 at the outer end o the opening 34 to hingedly connect. the pouring spout 35 with the can top. The spout top .36 does not have an extending lip similar to the lip 11 of the-spout 6. A locking cover plate 43 is connected pivotally at its center with the center of the spout top by rivet 44. The locking cover plate has a width greater than that of the spout top 36 and extends ilatwise across the spout top and the portion 31 of the can top. However, the width of the locking cover plate 43 is considerablyA less than the diameter of the portion 31 of the can top.

The neck 33 is provided outwardly of the ends of the openlng 34 with segments 45 of screw threads with which internal screw threads on the downturned arcuately curved end portions 46 of the locking cover. plate are engageable when the locking cover plate is in position to completely cover the closed spout as shown in Figure 8. The locking cover plate and its downturned neck engaging end portions thus ma be turned a mutiloo' in Figure 12. The locking cover plate will lie liatwise on the portion 31 of the can top when the spout is closed and when engaged with the neck 33 will positively retain the spout in closed position, whereby asubstantially air-tight closure will be produced for theopening 34 in the can top.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible' of embodiment in forms other than those which are illustrated in the'accompanying drawings and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations thereof as fairly fall within the -scope of the ap nded claims. A

claim: -f 1. A can top having an opening, a pouring spout pivotally attached to the can' top and swingable to and from position to close said opening, and a locking cover plate mounted on' said top to rotate horizontally and adjustable to and from position to hold said spout closed.

2. A can top having an opening, apivoted lll) pouring spout for controlling fiow through said opening, and a pivoted loclng cover plate mounted on said top to rotate horizontally and adjustable to and from position to overlie said spout and to hold said spout in closed position.

. 3. A can top having a depressed swbstantially flat circular portion, formed with an opening, a4 pouring spout having a top hinged to said depressed portion at one en of the opening and swingable outwardly from position to close said opening, a locking cover plate fitting in the de reed portion of the can top and pivota y connected with the can top, said locking cover plate having a cut away portion of greater length and width than said spout top and in position to permit opening of the spout therethrough when the cover plate has been turned on the depressed portion of the can top to a certain position.

4. A can -top having a depressed substan- A tially fiat circular portion, formed with an tion of the can top and pivotal opening, a pouring spout having a top hinged to said depressed portion at one end of the o ening and swingable outwardly from position to close said opening, a locking cover plate fitting in the depressed pory connected with the can top, said lockingv cover plate 'p having a cut away portion of` greater length tion to permit opening of the spoutv .t ere-" .plate having ribs and width than said spout top and in osithroucglh when the cover plate has been turne on the depressed portion of the can top to a certain position, said locking cover thereon serving to strengthen the plate and also as finger grip members for turnin the cover plate on the depressed portion o the can top.

5. A can top having a depressed-substantially Hat circular portion formed with an opening, a pouring spout having a top hinged to said depressed ortion at one end of the opening 'and swlngable outwardly from position to close said opening, a locking cover plate fitting in the depressed portion of the can top and pivotally connected with the can top, said locking cover plate having a cut away portion of greater length and width than said spout top and in position to permit opening of the spout therethrough when the cover plate has been turned on the depressed portion of the can top to a certain position, said locking cover late having ribs thereon serving yto strengt en the plate and also as nger grip members for turnin the cover plate on the depressed portion o the can top, certain of said ribs extending along circles parallel with the edge of the cover plate. v

6. A can top having a depressed substantially dat circular portion, formed with an opening, a pouring spout having a top hinged to said depressed portion "at one end of the opening and swingable outwardly from position to close said opening, a locking cover plate fitting in the depressed portion of the can top and pivotally connectedv with the can top, said locking cover plate having a cut away portion of greater length and width than said spout top and in position to permit o ening ofthe spout therethrough when t e cover plate has been turned on the depressed portion of the can top to a certain position, said opening being at one side of the center of the depressed portion of the can top and said pivotal connection between the cover plate and the can top being at the center of both the cover plate and the depressed portion of the canl top.

7. A can top having a depressed substantially flat circular portion, formed with an opening, a pouring spout having a top hinged 4to said depressed portion at one end of the opening and swingable outwardly fromposition to close said opening, a locking cover plate fitting in the depressed portion of the can top and pivotally connected with the can top, said locking cover plate having a cut away portion of greater length and width than said spout top and in position to permit opening of the spout therethrough when the cover plate has been turned on the depressed portion of the can top to a certain position, the thickness of said cover plate and the depth of said depressed portion of the can top being approximately the same.

8. A can top having an opening, a pouring spout pivotally attached to said topto swing into and out of said opening, and a locking cover plate mounted to rotate horizontally 'on said can top and extend over said spout when the latter is in closed position to hold the spout in closed position.

MORRIS D. COHEN. 

